Back to Genealogy Basics – The 1800’s Census, Part 2

Genealogists often divide the 1800 census records into 1850 and beyond and pre-1850 census records. Beginning with the 1850 census record, all members of the household were named. Census records from 1790-1850 only named the head of the household. Other family members were simply noted with a mark in an age category.

So, what’s a genealogist to do? How do you find your ancestor hidden among the tic marks. Let’s take a look first at the head of households.

Peruse an pre-1850 census list and you will find most of the names listed are men. You will, though, come across the names of women. This indicates the female is a widow.

Let’s look at George Harward in the 1830 US census for Wake County, North Carolina. In this case, George’s surname is spelled Harwood. (This is a common spelling variation in the records.)

The first thing to notice in looking at this census record is that information categories span two pages. Don’t miss important information about your ancestor’s household on the second page.

Begin looking at the make up of the 1830 Harwood household. George is the head of household and represents the free white male age 30-39. His wife [Elizabeth] is represented as the free white female age 30-39. The couple had 6 children listed on this census: 1 white male under 5, 1 white male 5-9, 1 white male 10 – 14, 2 white females under 5, and 1 white female 10-14.

To determine who the children in the family are, other known records must be compared with the census record. In this case, the Harward family Bible helps determine which children are which in the census.

1 white male under 5 – Caswell Harward

1 white male 5-9 – James Calvin Harward

1 white male 10- 14 Allen Mays Harward

2 white females under 5 – Susannah and Utilda Harward

1 white female 10-14 – Unaccounted female – No known children of George and Elizabeth Harward fits this age category. This female could be a niece or other relative living in the household.

Page 2…..

Page 2 of the 1830 census record indicates George Harward did not own any slaves or have free colored persons in his household. Other categories on the second page (of the 1830 census) include if anyone in the household is blind, deaf, or an alien.

TIP: When I assess these pre-1840 census records, I keep a blank copy of the record beside me. Those category heading can be tiny and hard to read on a laptop, so, I find having a hard copy close by helpful. You can find blank census records here.

You can certainly find your ancestors in the pre-1850 census records, you just need to use other records in conjunction with it (and a little math, too!). Other useful records to use beside these pre-1850 census records include post 1850 records, wills and estate records, and marriage records.

Who Is Close To Your Ancestor?

Look at who is listed close to your ancestor in the census record. Those surrounding your ancestor indicate neighbors and possibly other family members. In other words, you are looking at your ancestor’s neighborhood and knowing the neighborhood can be important in breaking down future brick walls.

Unfortunately some of these pre-1850 census records are alphabetized, which destroys any sense of neighborhood/community where your ancestor lived. In the above example, a loose attempt at alphabetizing the names appears to have been done.

Don’t shy away from those pre-1850 census records. Dive right in! Your “non – head of household” ancestors are in those census records and you can name them.

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Welcome! I'm Lisa. I believe researching your genealogy does not have to be overwhelming. All you need is a solid plan, a genealogy toolbox and the knowledge to use those tools. Read More…

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“After both my parents died, I thought my links to my family history were lost forever. I turned to a genealogy website to try to track down information about my heritage, and found evidence that I qualified to be a Daughter of the American Revolution. Knowing that the official paperwork would require documentation of my ancestors, I turned to Lisa Lisson (no relation) for assistance. She helped track down the links between my Patriot ancestor and me, and helped me to submit my documents to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Lisa also sent me wonderful detail-filled reports on different members of my family. I have built quite a collection of reprints of family history books based on the sources she found. Lisa’s reports and my book collection will be a resource for my young nephews when they get older and begin asking about where they came from. I can share stories of Puritans and farmers and witchcraft and Irish butchers and Indian raids and pioneers!”

Kathleen L.

2016-09-05T15:10:44+00:00

Kathleen L.

“After both my parents died, I thought my links to my family history were lost forever. I turned to a genealogy website to try to track down information about my heritage, and found evidence that I qualified to be a Daughter of the American Revolution. Knowing that the official paperwork would require documentation of my ancestors, I turned to Lisa Lisson (no relation) for assistance. She helped track down the links between my Patriot ancestor and me, and helped me to submit my documents to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Lisa also sent me wonderful detail-filled reports on different members of my family. I have built quite a collection of reprints of family history books based on the sources she found. Lisa’s reports and my book collection will be a resource for my young nephews when they get older and begin asking about where they came from. I can share stories of Puritans and farmers and witchcraft and Irish butchers and Indian raids and pioneers!”

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I have been a family history researcher for over 30 years ever since my father left me his notes on his family. Since then I have worked with a number of other researchers who have helped me find good sources as I am a stickler for documentary proof of facts.
I consider myself very fortunate to have come in contact with Lisa Lisson. She is diligent and clever about finding those small bits of data that connect people in obscure past records. Beyond that, Lisa is a joy to work with, adaptable, insightful and flexible. She takes a suggestion and works it into a plan of action adapted to my schedule and budget. Above all she is honest about what is possible and prudent in terms of cost and results. I have come to consider her a partner in my work.

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2016-09-05T15:17:32+00:00

Jim S.

I have been a family history researcher for over 30 years ever since my father left me his notes on his family. Since then I have worked with a number of other researchers who have helped me find good sources as I am a stickler for documentary proof of facts. I consider myself very fortunate to have come in contact with Lisa Lisson. She is diligent and clever about finding those small bits of data that connect people in obscure past records. Beyond that, Lisa is a joy to work with, adaptable, insightful and flexible. She takes a suggestion and works it into a plan of action adapted to my schedule and budget. Above all she is honest about what is possible and prudent in terms of cost and results. I have come to consider her a partner in my work.

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Thank you for the great ideas and the incentive to get what photos we have identified. I know I have photos from that my grandmother saved that are not marked in any way and no one seems to know who they are. She didn’t share them during her lifetime, but they were found after she passed away.

Michelle T.

2016-09-05T15:25:58+00:00

Michelle T.

Thank you for the great ideas and the incentive to get what photos we have identified. I know I have photos from that my grandmother saved that are not marked in any way and no one seems to know who they are. She didn’t share them during her lifetime, but they were found after she passed away.

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